2010 Honda CR-V Review

Detailed Review

The Honda CR-V entered the market in 1995 and has been in production since then for five generations. The first generation lasted from 1995-2001, the second generation from 2002-2006, the third generation from 2007-2011, the fourth generation from 2012-2016 and the fifth generation from 2016-present. In the Kenyan market, the CR-V is mainly imported from Japan and the UK.

Under the bonnet, the 2010 Honda CR-V comes with 3 engine options: a 2.4 Litre K24A VTEC petrol engine offered in Japanese models, a 2.0 Litre R20A VTEC petrol engine and a 2.2 Litre i-DTEC turbodiesel engine offered in European models. These engines are linked to either a 5-speed automatic or 6-speed manual transmission and available in both 2WD and 4WD.

2010 Honda CR-V Grades
Japanese Grades
ZL Grade- This is the base grade that comes with the 2.4L engine, 2WD, 17-Inch alloy rims, CD/Radio player, Keyless and manual seats
ZX Grade- This is the luxury grade that comes with the 2.4L engine, 4WD, 17-Inch alloy rims, CD/Navigation with touchscreen, Keyless, powered seats and an optional dual panel sunroof.

UK/Europe Grades
SE Grade – This the base model that comes with either the 2.0L petrol or 2.2L diesel engine, 4WD, 16-Inch Steel rims, CD/Radio Player and manual seats
ES Grade – This is the intermediate grade that comes with either the 2.0L petrol or 2.2L diesel engine, 4WD, 17-Inch alloy rims, parking sensors and fog lights
EX Grade – This is the luxury grade that comes with either the 2.0L petrol or 2.2L diesel engine, 4WD, 18-Inch alloy rims, DVD/Navigation, and a dual panel sunroof

Interior
Legroom & Space
The Honda CR-V is a spacious car with capacity to comfortably carry 5 adults. At the front , the space is good for both the driver and passenger. At the back, the flat floor with no transmission tunnel provides for excellent legroom for all three seats. The leather grades have a premium feel that is only matched by the VW Tiguan. If you add the panoramic sunroof to this, the CR-V completely blows its competitors out of the water.

Cabin Storage
At the front, there are 2 cup holders, door panel storage, a glovebox and a cubby box. For the second row, there is storage on the front seat pockets and door pockets.

2010 Honda CR-V Boot Space
Though it doesn’t match the big boot of the Nissan X-Trail, the CRV has a sizable and functional boot. It’s split into two compartments, a feature that is really useful when you want to separate your luggage. In all, the boot is sufficient to carry luggage for a family of five with space to spare. If extra space is required, the rear seats can be folded down.

Other Extras: DVD player, Navigation, Dual Zone Climate Control, Reverse Camera, Multi function steering controls, Cruise Control

Safety Features: 3 Point Seatbelts, ABS, Traction Control, 6 Airbags, Adaptive Cruise Control(optional)

Exterior
All Japanese grades come standard with 17-Inch alloy rims and fog lights while some European grades come without these. The 2010 model features an upgraded exterior with a distinctive new grille and bigger bumpers.

2010 Honda CR-V Fuel Consumption
2010 Honda CR-V 2.4L Petrol Fuel Consumption: 10.5 km/L (On Average)

2010 Honda CR-V 2.0L Petrol Fuel Consumption: 11.9 km/L (On Average)

2010 Honda CR-V 2.2L Diesel Fuel Consumption: 13.5 km/L (On Average)

2010 Honda CR-V Acceleration
2010 Honda CR-V 2.4L Petrol accelerates from 0-100 km/h in 10.6 sec.

2010 Honda CR-V 2.0L Petrol accelerates from 0-100 km/h in 12.2 sec.

2010 Honda CR-V 2.2L Diesel accelerates from 0-100 km/h in 10.6 sec.

2010 Honda CR-V Fuel Tank Capacity: 58 Litres

2010 Honda CR-V Stability and Handling
To improve stability, Honda lowered the height of the third generation CR-V by 35mm and increased the wheel track. This translated to an improvement in handling and stability that put the CR-V at per with the best station wagons. To put this to test, we took the CR-V for a drive and were immensely impressed by its on-road manners. Around corners, even at high speed, the CR-V is totally composed with no murmur of under or oversteer.

However, off the tarmac and on slippery ground, you don’t want to venture with the CR-V, especially the 2WD options. You will be grossly disadvantaged by the wide tyres that do not easily gain traction. The 4WD gives better chances but to a limited extent. Any terrain that requires a fair degree of wheel articulation is not for the CR-V.

Service Intervals
Minor Service – Done at 10,000 km. Requires Air Cleaner, Oil Filter, and Engine Oil
Major Service – Done at 15,000km. Requires Air Cleaner, Oil Filter, Fuel Filter, ATF Filter, Cabin Filter, Plugs, Front Brake Pads, Rear Brake Pads, ATF Oil, and Engine Oil

Spare Parts Availability, Cost & Where to buy
A few years back, Honda spares parts were expensive and not easily available in Kenya. Things have significantly improved with the parts now being cheaper and easier to find. Service parts are readily available in major towns and comparable in price to the Toyota RAV4. On the other hand, body parts such as headlights can be expensive and hard to find. This is not unique to Honda but also for most cars where body parts are usually expensive and hard to find. For a list of Honda CR-V spare part prices and dealers in Kenya, follow this link.

2010 Honda CR-V Reliability
The driving conditions in Kenya are significantly different from those in Japan and Europe. Reviews done for those markets largely do not apply to the Kenyan market. There are differences in roads, fuel, climate, spares, and technical expertise. To give you accurate and reliable local insights, we interview experts such as mechanics and car dealers, who have in-depth knowledge of the Kenyan market. We also test the cars ourselves. Our aim is to give you the right information to enable you make an informed decision when buying a car.

The Honda CR-V has been around since 1995 and has undergone some major improvements in that period. It’s one of the most sort after medium sized SUV in the Kenyan market today thanks to its stellar reliability and good performance. For this review, we interviewed several owners and Honda mechanics for their perspective. In summary, most owners love it and say they would gladly recommend it. The mechanics say it’s problem free to a large extent and if maintained as per the owner’s manual, it’s a reliable car. If buying diesel, avoid high mileage and go for a mechanical inspection. To download the 2010 Honda CR-V Owner’s Manual click on this link.

Resale Value: Average

Honda CR-V Competitors: Nissan X-Trail, Toyota RAV4, Land Rover Freelander, Subaru Forester, Mitsubishi Outlander and VW Tiguan

Cost of Ownership
Purchase Price: From Ksh.1,200,000
Comprehensive Insurance: Average Ksh. 48,000/ per annum- Or
3rd Party Insurance: Ksh. 7,000/- per annum
Change of Tyres(If necessary) Ksh. 60,000/- for 4 Tyres
See Latest Honda CRV Prices here

What we like about the 2010 Honda CR-V
1. Spacious and comfortable
2. Good handling and stability
3. Reliable

What we don’t
Weak off-road capabilities

Conclusion
The Honda CR-V is an SUV that delivers true value for money over its entire lifetime through savings in maintenance and repair. If well maintained, it can run for many years without breaking down or skipping a beat. For people who value reliability, practicality and comfort, the Honda CR-V is a perfect fit.